Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Nova Scotia, Canada

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Cape Breton Highlands National Park is Nova Scotia’s most famous and spectacular national park, occupying about 20% of Cape Breton Island’s northern third where dramatic highland plateaus meet the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Established in 1936 as Atlantic Canada’s first national park, it covers 950 km² of rugged terrain shaped by ancient Appalachian mountains, deep river canyons and glacial activity, with peaks rising over 500 meters (1,700 ft) above sea level. One-third of the world-renowned Cabot Trail scenic highway winds through the park along coastal cliffs and over the highlands, offering breathtaking ocean vistas and access to 26 diverse hiking trails, including the iconic 8.2 km round-trip Skyline Trail that features boardwalks, lookoffs and stunning sunset views over the sea. The park’s unique cool maritime climate supports a rare mix of Acadian, boreal and taiga habitats not found anywhere else in Canada, hosting northern species like moose, Canada lynx, martens and numerous rare plants alongside temperate wildlife, seabirds and old-growth forests. Visitors enjoy year-round outdoor activities including camping at six campgrounds, hiking, bird-watching, golfing, swimming at pristine sandy beaches, and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in winter, while the region’s rich human history spans 10,000 years from the Mi’kmaq people to Scottish, Irish and French settlers.